In Mouscron, as in other cities, the fight continues against the trade in nitrous oxide cartridges, also known as “laughing gas”, which some (young people, even very young people) consume for its intense and short-lived psychoactive effect. In mid-July, a decree from the mayor ordered the closure of a tobacco shop in the Mont-à-Leux district, particularly because of the resale of this product. Which led Magali Delannoy to say at the time, “that it is a real scourge”, according to the local police commissioner.
Last Sunday, the Mouscron police carried out a new seizure in a tobacco shop in the area. And the least we can say is that the “raid” was worth the detour!
“On Sunday, August 25, at around 1 a.m., a search was carried out in flagrante delicto at a tobacco shop in the Risquons-Tout district,” Mouscron police explained. “The search was carried out following the arrest, a few minutes earlier, of two consumers of nitrous oxide who had just stocked up at an establishment located on Chaussée de Lille. On site, during the search, the six police officers discovered and seized some 86 bottles of 666-gram nitrous oxide, 6 bottles of 3.3 liters (i.e. 73 liters of laughing gas) and 660 balloons (usually used to allow the diverted use of nitrous oxide for psychotropic purposes). Numerous illegal goods (electronic cigarettes, poppers, viagra, etc.), counterfeits (glasses, watches), money, as well as prohibited weapons (knife, taser, peperspray) were also seized, for a total amount of 17,000 euros. The operator was arrested and made available to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The establishment was sealed by decision of the Labor Auditorate. The investigation is currently continuing at the information office.
The police zone reminds that the misuse of nitrous oxide is a public health problem, known to the police services and generating recurring disturbances to public order.
